Our world collided

CHAPTER 3: A Change

The morning sun pierced into the Charms Advertising building, leaving a glow as Layla walked through the doors. She feels this is where she wants to be. She had a staff ID badge, boldly written, “Project manager”. She had her badge worn around her neck. It represents her dedication.

In the office you see everyone going about their different duties, well organized and ready to start the day's task. Layla walked to her desk. Tamara and Tamire were already seated, waiting for her.

“Morning, Luna. You are late, ma'am,” Tamire said, teasing and winking at Layla,

“I am never late, Tamire, you know that,” Layla said, smiling.

Tamara handed her a coffee.“You will be needing this. A client is coming in for a presentation within about an hour from now! And you have yet to peruse the presentation slides. Hope you checked your email because I sent it last night.

Layla took the cup. Isn't it what we all need, Tamara. And yes, I got your email. Don't worry, the presentation is going to be just fine.

Each day passed with a flood of meetings, brainstorming sessions, and meetings with project deadlines. Layla always made sure her team stays organized and delivers tasks on time. Her role is demanding and challenging, but she loves these kinds of challenges.

Her routine became so precise: wake up early enough and get to work, have lunch with her team and leave the office last to finalize details and report. It was really exhausting, but she enjoyed every moment.

It hadn't even been up to three months after Layla's employment at Charms Advertising.

Layla was at her desk, going over client's work, when she got an email and her phone pinged. The subject line was straight. A Message from the Board of Directors. She clicked it, wondering why the board of directors would be texting her.

The email was a notice about the demise of the founder and CEO, Dr. Vanns Charm.

It felt as if the email was sent to everyone all at once, because the office was filled with such heavy silence that if a pin dropped it could be heard miles away. Staff began gathering in groups, chatting with little whispers in hushed tones. Some even cried and the day was just almost impossible to get through. This loss was immense, Mr. Vanns was such a kind man to everyone, and it was so much for everyone to take in.

Layla had her hands on her head as she leaned back on her desk, thinking thoughts. Irrespective of the fact that she had never had a one on one encounter with the CEO, she had perceived what he was like through the system and structure he had built at Charms Advertising. The man was truly an embodiment of inspiration to Layla. His story was that of a man who started out with basically nothing but built up this much value through consistency and hard work, lots of it she knew. This was even the first reason she wanted to work there.

Tamara wasn't her usual self, her composure was gone, she said almost as though she was whispering, he truly was gone.

Isn't death just the end of us all, in the end? Layla replied.

For the next couple of days that turned into weeks, the atmosphere in the office was the same, dull. A series of meetings were postponed, the deadline was adjusted. This gave the company time to mourn him and prepare for the funeral.

After a couple of weeks, the entire board of directors was present at the office, and an emergency meeting was held to discuss the successor of the company's management. The first floor of the building had the biggest conference space and that was where the meeting was held. The entire staff of Charms Advertising or CA, as most had come to reference the brand, was in attendance.

An older man with more reddish hair made his way to the podium. He had the most stern face I have seen since I left home. His information was straight and brief. “Indeed, a vacuum has been with us for a while now, and to continue would bring the good name we all have built over the years with our dedication and consistency. Therefore, after careful consideration, the chairpeople have collectively decided that the heir to the CA group of companies will be taking over. Apart from having the largest shares of the company's stock, he is most qualified for the role as CEO”.

Murmuring could be heard all through the room,

Staff exchanged gazes and hushed side talks.

It was expected, as none of the staff knew who he was, they barely believed the man had a son.

Layla, Tamara and Tamire made a quick glance at each other.

“If he must be young, he must at least have witted like his dad?” Tamire whispered, in a hush.

“CA isn't on its spree with an experienced CEO,” Tamara added. “If he hadn't been here before, how would he lead the structure?”

Layla had a frown worn on her face, but she had no comment at all. She just hoped all the gossip going around the office was rumors and stayed rumors, because we have so much reputation to keep up, the company doesn't need baggage, not now, not right now at least.

The man continues: Mr. Vahrms Vale Charms will report to his office and resume within the next few weeks. We ask for your indulgence during this transition period. Thank you.

Within the next week, there were new changes to the sequel to the last meeting. Lots of other meetings were held sporadically to ensure everything was in order and ready to follow the new leadership. Everyone speculated one or two about the incoming management. Some doubted his abilities, while others spread wild rumors about him. Others felt that, at his age, he would fail where his father prospered. Alot was going on, but that didn't stop the usual office decorum.

While all this stuff and thoughts were in the air, the company strangely recruited a new cleaner,

“A janitor!! Really?” Layla had said out loud when she overheard the normal office gossip mongers that morning as she got to work.

Layla had not noticed him till the evening. She had to work over schedule for a project.

He was almost too precise for a new cleaner, he knew where everything was, though that made her curious, she got more interested in how he carried out his duty, with the right momentum and ease. He looked so focused and in love with his role. Layla looked at him with so much amusement, as she shook her head in the opposite direction and got back to her perusal.

Later that night, when Layla had gotten home and was ready for bed, the thoughts about the new cleaning staff crossed her mind again. She realized the cleaning staff was quite handsome, even underneath his big baggy cleaning ropes. She had caught a glimpse of more than just his clothes. He was too handsome for a cleaning staff, she thought. It might be a condition that has pushed him down to the role. He was tall and was really pleasing to her eyes. She wished she had looked a bit closer at him, what his eyes would have looked like. She didn't even know his name, her thoughts ran wild from a thing to a thing, and that's how she slept off with the thoughts of the cleaning staff in her mind.

She would often find herself staring at him. She had taken so much notice of the cleaning staff all of a sudden.

Oh well, so she thought, unknown to Layla, she had made quite an impression on him as well. He was modest but had so much confidence, this wasn't common for a cleaning staff.

One night, Layla was behind her usual working overtime.

A conversation came up between her and the cleaning staff.

“There must be so much work on your desk?” he asked, startling Layla as he emptied her trash bin.

She looked up from her laptop. “Yeah. Deadlines don’t wait, unfortunately.”

He smiled faintly. “They never do.”

Layla watched as he moved to the next desk. She bathed her eyelids, trying to take in what had just happened. She really did have a conversation with him. There was something about his voice—soft, assuring, almost commanding.

As soon as she got to the office the next morning, she just couldn't hold back and needed someone to tell her she was not creepy and needed to get a better grip of herself. She passively began,

“Is it just me, or is the new cleaning staff catching?” Layla asked.

Tamire shrugged. “Not really. Why?”

“He just… I don't know, either, in my eyes,” her words not coming out like her thoughts were

Tamara raised an eyebrow. “He might be overqualified but you, my love, need to get hooked soon, and it can't be a mere cleaner.” she concluded, and they all burst into laughter.

She just rolled her eyes from them and changed the subject for discussion.

As Layla might have it, strangely, the cleaning staff was seen almost every day by Layla. It was more like she'd only need to think about him and he'd be in her space. She began noticing that the cleaning staff was as handy as he was observing. He helped out on things that were outside his paystub. One day, Layla found him fixing the printing machine in the production room, and engaged him in a conversation.;

“You’re becoming really handy around here and getting a lot of appraisals,” she said jokingly,

He looked up, with amusement in his eyes. “It's a hobby.”

Layla just stood there looking at him, “boy!! He must have walked out of a magazine”, she thought to herself. Then she said out loud," What is your name?

“Ale,” he replied simply.

“wait what? She exclaimed, almost immediately,

Like a drink? Oh wait, I am so sorry about my outburst. I am just surprised, I mean you would be if you wore my shoes just now.

He smiled with so much sincerity, “it's fine, I get that alot, my name is Ale, and I am just a simple man trying to earn a living”.

“I’m Layla.” was all she could say.

He nodded. “I know.”

Layla blinked. “You… know?”

He smiled again, “Word gets around.” he said

Before she could say her next words, he got on one knee with printing ink all over him and his coat, gathered his tools and left the room.

Unknown to everyone in the entire company, Ale was in fact the new young CEO. They had all been waiting for his arrival, he had already arrived and started working. Even the board members and board of trustees were unaware of this subtle plan to take over. They all thought that the new management was on its way and was inexperienced and lacked ethics. Well, he had them a long time coming. His disguise format gave him a clearer angle to his inner workings, to identify strengths and weaknesses without the biases that came with his title.

This idea came from so much thought about how to be in control without being unaware of structure. He was sure his dad would have handed him appraisals now.

The company might see his management as a new inception, but he had already begun before he began. Layla had become a part of, she just never saw it coming.